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VOL. 9, NO. 11
THI UE·
y
a nr11e t
M ·d1 1ght Expr s
with Brad Davi
Letters Needed In A Hurry
3
THE BLADE
A PUBLICATION FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY
6
n d
5C pl 1g
NOVEMBER 6, 1978
$10 Million
Sought In
Lawsuit
by Ernie Acosta
The Gay Activists Alliance, seeking to end
a six month impasse in its bid to display the
"Someone in Your Life is Gay" poster on
local buses, last month filed a $10 million
lawsuit against the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(Metro) and appealed to Metro's Board of
Directors to overturn its management's
decision to deny GAA advertising space.
Pro-Gay Proposal In Trouble
GAA alleges in its lawsuit that, in denying
its request, Metro violated the District's
Human Rights Law of 1977, which prohibits
discrimination based on sexual preference.
In addition, the group contends in its appeal
to the Board that Metro's action violated the
freedom of speech and due process '
guarantees of the U.S. Constitution.
by Steve Martz
A recent ,federal Communications
Commission proposal that would require
broadcasters to seek greater input from
Gays on community issues has aroused
opposition and appears to be in trouble.
The proposal is in response to a petition
by-the National Gay Task Force and 142
other Gay organizations and requires that
broadcasters interview leaders of all
community groups within their broadcast
area. including Gays, if those groups are
"significant" and "readily accessible."
NGTF had originally asked that Gays be
specifically enumerated as one of twenty
groups that broadcasters must ascertain, but
has since hailed the Commission's proposed
alternative as "a major step forward for Gay
people."
Many religious conservatives have
become alarmed by the proposal and are
beginning to fight back, deluging the
Commission with letters opposing the idea
of "giving queers a voice." Both Anita
Bryant and Reverend Jerry Falwell have
recently alerted their followers to the
proposal's existence. As a result, comments
received at the Commission since mid­September
have been running about 7-1
against the proposal.
The comments of one Cleveland woman
are typ)cal of much of the mail the FCC is
receiving. She wrote, "I most strongly
oppose this outrageous proposal and should
it ever be implemented, I would smash all the
radios in my house against a rock."
This grass roots opposition is
complemented by the National Religious
Broadcasters Association which recently
caught wind of the proposal and asked the
Commission to delay by three month> the
deadline for the filing of public comments.
Although denying the request for a three
month extension. the FCC did agree to
extend the deadline by one month to
November 16.
The extension appears likely to work
against Gays unless they are able to counter
the massive letter writing campaign of the
fundamenfiilists. TTie ~B nas afreaoy
declared its intention to present the
Commission with a survey of the (sodomy)
laws of the 50 states as they "relate to the acts
advocated by certain of the petitioners and
their supporters."
A potentially more serious source of
opposition is emerging from broadcasters
who oppose the proposed change on
technical grounds. They argue the proposal
would reintroduce an unnecessary element
of uncertainty into the ascertainment
process by holding a broadcaster's license
subject to challenge if he fails to consult any
group which claims it is both significant and
readily accessible.
In early 1976, the Commission adopted a
rule that broadcasters needed to interview
only the leaders of 19 specified community
groups. Broadcasters claim the present
proposal signals a retreat to pre-1976
standards which they feel were too loosely
defined.
NGTF is now responding to the challenge
presented by the mounting opposition to the
proposal. In late October, they distributed a
"Media Alert" to their members, informing
them of the danger the proposal now faces.
The alert notes that "in view of Anita
Bryant '.s campaign. it is important that a
large number of letters be submitted" to the
F.C.C.
The group urges individuals and
organizations to write letters supporting the
proposal (refer to BC Docket No. 78-237) to
the FCC Secretary at 1919 M St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20054.
.· . .-..... .
Metro officially advised GAA in
September that the poster wai
"inappropriate" for Metrobuses. Th
decision was based on a recently added
provision in Metro's guidelines for the
content of advertising in its trains and buses.
"The staff made a judgement within the
Board-approved guidelines, taking into
account the captive nature of advertising in
buses, trains and stations," said Metro
spokesperson. Cody Pfanstiehl. He cited a
guideline passed by the Board on September
2 I which reads, in part: "Items which might
be objectionable to a substantial segment of
the community should 0e avoided. For
example, advertising depicting or referring
Continued on page 6
·:·:·:·:::::: .. · :::::·: .. ::::· ·:·:-::_._:·.:._:
::·
t ~L~~~ Your Eye•Y•~-~' .~.~.~~.1,~,~~'Y R~~'~'~~o~ th< l<>d<rah;p w;th. '
:·
On November 7 the axiom that Gay opposition from all California politi- less blatantly anti-Gay approach. but was
rights on the ballot leads to certain defeat cians, including former Governor persuaded to resign only three weeks
for Gays and victory for conservative Ronald Reagan, Sen. Hayakawa, and later after Black community leaders
opponents may itself be defeated. In Cali- Howard Jarvis, author of the tax-cutting urged him to recognize the "racist and
fornia and Seattle, Washington, Gays Proposition 13 which has become a key oppressive" nature of the proposal. As in
stand a better than even chance of finally conservative position. The California ref- California. the Seattle drive has failed to
defeating efforts to strip away rights erendum on Proposition 6 also has muster support from any leading com-already
granted them. A third vote, in created strong interest in the interna- munity or political leaders.
Dade County, Florida, where the first tional press, with the prestigious British Dade County, Florida, faces a differ-anti-
Gay vote overturned Gay rights, the magazine The Economist terming it a ent issue. Gay activist Bob Kunst. often
issue will again come before voters, with "witch hunt"and characterizing Briggs as at odds with the Miami Gay community.
the outcome expected to be a repeat of "unintentionally comic." The latest poll successfully gathered signatures to place
the 1977 defeat. shows California voters split 45% a broadly written antidiscrimination law
Most attention is centering on Califor­nia,
where conservative state Senator
John Briggs has sponsored Proposition 6
to deny school employment to Gays and
non-Gays alike who "openly advocate"
Gay lifestyles. The proposal, favored by
large margins in early polls. now looks
like it will go down to defeat. While the
issue deals with an area of considerable
controversy-Gays in the school
against. 43% for and I 2<'r undecided. before the voters. Anita Bryant once
In Seattle the harsh tactics of conserva- again is speaking against including Gays
tive supporters of repeal of that city's Gay as a minority group. and the proposal's
protections have brought a backlash of wording has become a problem for
resentment. and late polls show a major- former Gay supporters such as the ,
ity of Seattle voters repulsing the anti- League of Women Voters and the
Gay drive. The two early anti-Gay National Organization of Women.
leaders. both Seattle policemen. were Observers expect the measure to fail by at
replaced after they became the subject of least the same margin as the 1977 vote,
controversy themselves. A Black labor which was more than two-to-one against.

VOL. 9, NO. 11
THI UE·
y
a nr11e t
M ·d1 1ght Expr s
with Brad Davi
Letters Needed In A Hurry
3
THE BLADE
A PUBLICATION FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY
6
n d
5C pl 1g
NOVEMBER 6, 1978
$10 Million
Sought In
Lawsuit
by Ernie Acosta
The Gay Activists Alliance, seeking to end
a six month impasse in its bid to display the
"Someone in Your Life is Gay" poster on
local buses, last month filed a $10 million
lawsuit against the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(Metro) and appealed to Metro's Board of
Directors to overturn its management's
decision to deny GAA advertising space.
Pro-Gay Proposal In Trouble
GAA alleges in its lawsuit that, in denying
its request, Metro violated the District's
Human Rights Law of 1977, which prohibits
discrimination based on sexual preference.
In addition, the group contends in its appeal
to the Board that Metro's action violated the
freedom of speech and due process '
guarantees of the U.S. Constitution.
by Steve Martz
A recent ,federal Communications
Commission proposal that would require
broadcasters to seek greater input from
Gays on community issues has aroused
opposition and appears to be in trouble.
The proposal is in response to a petition
by-the National Gay Task Force and 142
other Gay organizations and requires that
broadcasters interview leaders of all
community groups within their broadcast
area. including Gays, if those groups are
"significant" and "readily accessible."
NGTF had originally asked that Gays be
specifically enumerated as one of twenty
groups that broadcasters must ascertain, but
has since hailed the Commission's proposed
alternative as "a major step forward for Gay
people."
Many religious conservatives have
become alarmed by the proposal and are
beginning to fight back, deluging the
Commission with letters opposing the idea
of "giving queers a voice." Both Anita
Bryant and Reverend Jerry Falwell have
recently alerted their followers to the
proposal's existence. As a result, comments
received at the Commission since mid­September
have been running about 7-1
against the proposal.
The comments of one Cleveland woman
are typ)cal of much of the mail the FCC is
receiving. She wrote, "I most strongly
oppose this outrageous proposal and should
it ever be implemented, I would smash all the
radios in my house against a rock."
This grass roots opposition is
complemented by the National Religious
Broadcasters Association which recently
caught wind of the proposal and asked the
Commission to delay by three month> the
deadline for the filing of public comments.
Although denying the request for a three
month extension. the FCC did agree to
extend the deadline by one month to
November 16.
The extension appears likely to work
against Gays unless they are able to counter
the massive letter writing campaign of the
fundamenfiilists. TTie ~B nas afreaoy
declared its intention to present the
Commission with a survey of the (sodomy)
laws of the 50 states as they "relate to the acts
advocated by certain of the petitioners and
their supporters."
A potentially more serious source of
opposition is emerging from broadcasters
who oppose the proposed change on
technical grounds. They argue the proposal
would reintroduce an unnecessary element
of uncertainty into the ascertainment
process by holding a broadcaster's license
subject to challenge if he fails to consult any
group which claims it is both significant and
readily accessible.
In early 1976, the Commission adopted a
rule that broadcasters needed to interview
only the leaders of 19 specified community
groups. Broadcasters claim the present
proposal signals a retreat to pre-1976
standards which they feel were too loosely
defined.
NGTF is now responding to the challenge
presented by the mounting opposition to the
proposal. In late October, they distributed a
"Media Alert" to their members, informing
them of the danger the proposal now faces.
The alert notes that "in view of Anita
Bryant '.s campaign. it is important that a
large number of letters be submitted" to the
F.C.C.
The group urges individuals and
organizations to write letters supporting the
proposal (refer to BC Docket No. 78-237) to
the FCC Secretary at 1919 M St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20054.
.· . .-..... .
Metro officially advised GAA in
September that the poster wai
"inappropriate" for Metrobuses. Th
decision was based on a recently added
provision in Metro's guidelines for the
content of advertising in its trains and buses.
"The staff made a judgement within the
Board-approved guidelines, taking into
account the captive nature of advertising in
buses, trains and stations," said Metro
spokesperson. Cody Pfanstiehl. He cited a
guideline passed by the Board on September
2 I which reads, in part: "Items which might
be objectionable to a substantial segment of
the community should 0e avoided. For
example, advertising depicting or referring
Continued on page 6
·:·:·:·:::::: .. · :::::·: .. ::::· ·:·:-::_._:·.:._:
::·
t ~L~~~ Your Eye•Y•~-~' .~.~.~~.1,~,~~'Y R~~'~'~~o~ th< l<>d